Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-04
TIE OATMEAL GIRL.

TIE OATMEAL GIRL.
Alfred Moore WAS young. rich and toll
erahly good looking. and was looked upon
as u desirable match by all his feminine
acguantanceS, who CrieNed To see him
wasting his years. for in the feminine
mind, unmarried years are wasted Bat
there was something serious the matter
with Alfred-Ec hal 4 hobby. Any one
who has a male relative affected with a
hobby, whether it is politics. drainage. or
chid>, or poultry raising. can realize how
serious this matter was on learning that
Alfreds hobby was health. This unfor-
tunate yogug man had dyspeptic father
and mother. and he had heard more about
ill health ever since his childhood than if
he had sttended a course Of medical lect-
ures for years His mother had to have
certain articles of diet continually pre-
pared .or her dyspepsia, and his father,
having slightly different style Of dvspep-
sia. had 10 have his meals prepared especi-
ally for his needs. The family atmosphere
was always regulated by dyspepsia; if a
depressed day happened To take beth par
ents at once. deep gloom prevailed over
the household II depression seized upon
one parent on day when the other felt
cheerful there Were apt To I've conflicting
breezes. with tendency to storms. On
days when both parents felt able 20 order
a pudding for next dsy Alfred knew he
might ask favors and obtain indulgenceS,
and he always improved the occasion, well
knowing that the day after the pudding
would be one Of darkness and despair
On cheerful days Alircd's parents talked
of nothing but of what they wanted to
eat: on gloomy days they talked only
of what they had eaten. Hav-
ing studied all these phases of
the fruits of good living. Alfred
realized that though his youth had borne
him safely through years of luxurious
dining there might be wrecked digestion
in store for him, so he took advantage of
his four years of college life to cultivate
an ahstcmious appetite and habit of tax
ing active exercise daily. Thus his hobby
ihrived and grew Till it demanded nothing
less than that Alfred should find for him
Self healthy wife or none For this &c
centric frame uf mind Alfred's parents
We're directly responsible. since il was i'm
possible 10 contemplate their sufierings.
their temper and appearance without sce-
in, that life would not be worth living
under like conditions. Bat Alfred found
il most difficult 10 satisfy the demand of
his hobby, being fe;tercd in his efforts by
that uncontrollable old truisn. Things
are not what they seem" He wanted
partner for his fine and well cared for di-
gcstion. inclosed in the frame Of pretty
and intelligent girl; but. though he knew
dozens Of delightful girls, and could have
asccrtained without difficulty the exact
state Of their hearts ,he being. as af.re-
said, young, rich and handsome. he wa,
unable 70 feel positively assured of the
state of their digestive organs. Rosy
cheeks, bright eyes, rounded forms and
abundant hair We're all present TO his
sight, but how could he be sure that their
owners did not have blue spells, merry
Gus attacks" and ''temp'ry spells;" Per
haps they also partook daily Of medicines
by spoonfuls. by drops in tumblers of
water, by powders at meal times. Had
he not seen all these things from his youth
up. at home. even before his mother lost
her good looks, His mother had been a
beauty and 4 belle, but years Of dietetic
miSmanagement had reduced her TO the
semblance OF a mummy.
If one could catch girl when quite
small shut her up. and feed her properly,
happiness would be certain" reflected
Alfred But as that could not be con
veniently done, in the present age Of bar
barous civilization. Alfred resolved TO
find a girl as nearly up In his require
mcn;s as possible, marry her Immediately.
and while the word ''obey" WAS still fresh
i'll her memory restrict her diet, form her
mind. and be happy.
There is a sage old proverb among the
PersianS To the effect that upon every
good resolve wait two genii, one good and
one bad. These parties were doubtless on
hand upon the evening when Alfred met
Flossie Breck. This young woman had
come from a neighboring country town To
visit Alfrei's cousin. Jane Moore. Some
DAYS after her arrival. Alfred. with other
Young PEOPLE. WAS spending the evening
upon the plaza Of James home, and.
among other things. they discussed their
anticipated summer outings. SeaShore,
lakes asd mountains were named, and
most Of the party were to be widely di-
vided during August IN spite Of tempt
ing invitations. Alfred had secretly de
cided on trip Ia the Virginia hunting
grounds. when he heard Jane say: And
here's EloSSie going 10 that stupid farm,
where there is no one to see and nothing
to do, Just so that She can climb trees
a shout OF laughter greeted this accusa
ton To which Miss Flossie replied only
by bright smile which showed two rows
Of exquisite teeth. and dimple in which
Cupid might have taken board for the
summer. And there's nothing to eat up
there added one Of the young men.
''Oh. Fiossic eats nothing but oatmeal
and potatoes said Jane Moore.
Alfred's attention was aroused. How
very unusual Miss Breck.' he said.
Il eat bread and sometimes meat; hut
my aunt. who has always had charge Of
me, never allowed me To eat all sorts Of
things. rs other girls do said Elossie,
with pretty blush and a depI coating
glance.
Very sensible of her," said Alfred, be-
coming more interested. Presently lie
learned that the llarr she intended to visit
WAS IL farm horse in b county, near a
village with which he was familiar.
Il go there sometimes; the fishing is
QCite tolerable," he said.
"I 60 to visit a second cousin Of my
aunt. ana taInK 1 rearl ncr SPEAK oi YOU
last summer: she had seen You by chance.
and inquired about you,'' said Flossie,
And - yUu like oatmeal aud farm
life" asked Alfred.
Indeed, love both; but hope you
won't think me a dreadful romp, from
what your cousin said. Aunt Kate did
not approve Of me dancing in hot rooms,
but she allowed me To climb trees when |
was alone at the farm, and it is such fun.
Aunt Kate says a girl should be healthy;
before all things. and rs I'm always well
l suppose | can thank her for it,
Alfred's admiration for this lovely com
bination of beauty and gentleness in
creased with every word she spoke, AMI
the 1st of August found him boarding Ut
the house OF Silas Cloud, the second
cousin of the auIlt of ElnsSie Ereck.